Tribute To Victims

Of The Japs

A Memorial in Nauru

A Memorial To Lt.-Col. F.

R. Chalmers, C.M.G., D. 5.0., a former Administrator of Nauru, and to others who lost their lives during the Japanese occupa tion of Nauru was unveiled at Nauru on November 11 by the Australian Minister for Territories (Mr. Paul Hasluck).

When the island was evacuated in February, 1942, Lt.-Col. Chalmers, (who was appointed Administrator

as from October 22, 1938), Dr. B. H.

Quin (Government Medical Officer), and Mr. W. Shugg (Medical Assistant), elected to remain on the island to care for the native in habitants.

Two members of the British Phosphate Commission staff—Mr.

F. Harmer and Mr. W. H. Doyle— also remained to look after the Chinese labourers and the Com missioners’ equipment.

Nauru was occupied by the Japanese from August 25, 1942, until September, 1945. Investiga tions following the enemy’s sur render disclosed that in March, 1943, Lt.-Col. Chalmers and the other four Europeans were mur dered by the Japanese as a reprisal against the destruction of a number of Japanese planes by American bombers. Despite an in tensive search no trace was found of their burial place.

The Nauru War Memorial is in the form of a column mounted on a square concrete base. A memorial plaque is fixed in each face of the base and mounted on the column above each plaque is a laurel wreath and sword. The memorial

The late Colonel Chalmers.

plaques commemorate respectively: Lt. Col. Chalmers and the four other Europeans murdered by the Japanese; Nauruans, Chinese and Gibertese who lost their lives dur ing the Japanese occupation; and servicemen associated with Nauru who paid the supreme sacrifice in either World War.

The official party travelled, via Honiara (Solomons) in a Qantas plane, and included: the Minister for Territories and Mrs. Hasluck; the Parliamentary Uuder-Secretary for Territories (Mr. Howse), who acts for the Minister in matters affecting Nauru; Mrs. Ramage, daughter of the late Lt.-Col. Chal mers (as the representative of the bereaved families); Lt.-Col. W. P.

Devonshire and Mr. H. B. Walker, representing the 27th Battalion A.1.F., of which Lt.-Col. Chalmers was in command at the time of the 1918 Armistice: Mr. L. Wigmore, official war historian; Mr. T. J. S.

Arthur, Regional Director of Civil Aviation in Papua and New Guinea; Mr. Lloyd Carr, of the Commonwealth Department of Health; and an official photo grapher.

It was announced that service on which they travelled (from Lae, New Guinea, via Honiara, BSD has only just been inaugurated by Qantas in order to link Nauru with Australia.

Advantage was taken of the occasion for an official inspection of the island by the Minister.

A Fijian Methodist Missionary, Penaia Sati, with his wife and child, is now at work in Arnhem Land.